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Why I Started Playing Clarinet in My 40s

June 9, 2025 at 2:34 AM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

Why I Started Playing Clarinet in My 40s
youtu.be/5I8BPHWqVrg

Concerto for Timpani and Wind Ensemble

May 4, 2025 at 10:42 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

I play with the Mid America Freedom Band, an LGBTQ concert band here in KC. Friday was our season finale and we premiered this timpani concerto which we commissioned to celebrate our new timpani.

youtu.be/Ni7doYhN4LE

YouTube video by Mid America Freedom Band

Clarinet cover of U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” #teambackun @Tombooksapps

May 4, 2025 at 4:15 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

Clarinet cover of U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” #teambackun ⁠

youtube.com/shorts/3J9nw...

Jamming with @midamericafreedomband5000 at the 37th annual AIDS Walk KC!

April 28, 2025 at 1:25 AM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

Jammin with the Mid America Freedom Band at the 37th annual AIDS Walk in KCMO

youtube.com/shorts/LXV0Y...

A Late Start, A Big Dream

April 27, 2025 at 1:05 AM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

This is a little scary to share, but also really important. I’ve decided to chase a dream: becoming a pro clarinetist. I’m over 40, self-taught, and didn’t go to music school—but playing has changed me. It gives me purpose. I’m choosing to believe I can build a life around it.

youtu.be/Q4MhVQi-oFk

Going to give the@BuffetCramponParis ClariMate a try. #clarinet

April 21, 2025 at 1:29 AM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

One of the formative experiences of my childhood was playing French Horn in the pit orchestra of my high school’s production of “The King and I”. 📯

It was amazing. 🥰

Now that I’m playing clarinet I’ve been kinda keeping my eye out for any opportunity to play in a pit again. 👀

April 13, 2025 at 1:20 AM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

Been having some motivational issues lately

Someone said to me today “You can do this. And you’re allowed to want it.”

It’s really sticking with me so I made a meme out of it

April 11, 2025 at 8:23 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

I practice my clarinet like a lot.

But I live in apartment building. My neighbors are super cool (the one I share a wall with is a jazz drummer, so I don’t think it would be possible to annoy him).

But I worry nonetheless. So I bought a ClariMate to try out.

youtube.com/shorts/68p8k...

Rehearsing Julie Giroux’s “Culloden” with the @midamericafreedomband5000.

April 9, 2025 at 5:37 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

For the first time ever in my life I sat down and sketched out a 5 year plan 🤔 😋

April 7, 2025 at 4:11 AM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

Rehearsing Julie Giroux’s “Culloden” with the Mid America Freedom Band, getting ready for our season finale May 2. Such a great clarinet part! 🥰🥰🥰

youtube.com/shorts/9fypk...

April 4, 2025 at 2:09 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

It was four years ago I first picked up a clarinet. I’ve come such a long way. And I am so thankful for this journey. 🥰🥰🥰

youtube.com/shorts/KHZDZ...

Four years?!?!

March 22, 2025 at 10:59 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

Clarinet folks will get it 🥰🥰🥰

March 22, 2025 at 2:04 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

Oh Danny Boy on clarinet.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

⁠Shirt from Clever Clarinetist

Backing track by TomPlay

youtu.be/N5v4rrX24KE?...

Oh Danny Boy

Get more from Joy, Fully on Patreon

March 17, 2025 at 3:28 AM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

“I have to create, or it was all for nothing. I have to create, or I will crumple up with despair and never leave my bed. I have to create because I have no other way of voicing this.” Her hand rested on her heart, and my eyes burned.

March 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

Life sings to me

February 28, 2025 at 6:51 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

One of the ensembles I play with — Mid America Freedom Band — is playing Nancy Galbraith’s Wind Symphony No. 1 and this is the name of the publishing house … that’s a really clever name I think 😊

February 28, 2025 at 4:18 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

We dIdN'T KnOw hE'D Be tHiS CrUeL AnD Do aLl tHeSe cRaZy tHiNgS!

bullshit

BULLshit

bullSHIT

BULLSHIT

February 27, 2025 at 3:17 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

The only thing I want to do is play my clarinet

We should live in a world which enables this kind of lifestyle

As opposed to stifling it

February 26, 2025 at 8:54 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

When Apple first released their Classical Music app I didn't really get it, I used it for a few days then went back to the standard music app

The last several weeks I've been being much more intentional about my music and I gave it another chance and I'm really really enjoying it now

February 26, 2025 at 8:01 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

Loving this suggestion

Dancing Monk🌻 @dancingmonk.bsky.social · Feb 26

#NowPlaying 🎻

Clarinet Quartet 03 in D major, Op 7 - Bernhard Henrik Crusell
Thea King / Allegri SQ

February 26, 2025 at 6:02 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

I realized that Patreon is kinda like a legitimate version of the daddies of the sucrose variety.

I’m auditioning for a clarinet 2/3 spot with the Overland Park Civic Band tonight.

I haven’t auditioned for anything in like 30 years 🤪

www.patreon.com/joyfully?utm...

Bright spark of divinity, Daughter of Elysium, Fire-inspired

www.patreon.com

February 25, 2025 at 7:18 PM

Joy (she/her)

@joyhopefully.bsky.social

Three Fantasy Pieces, Opus 73 - No 1 Zart und mit Ausdruck, Robert Schumann. Clarinet. Arrangement by ⁠⁠TomPlay. youtu.be/iJuIKtk8bXY?...

Three Fantasy Pieces, Opus 73 - No 1, Schumann